Normal Behaviour is the solo project of Guy Nicholas Challenger. He recorded 'Cover For Me' himself using a Tascam dp 00-6 and GarageBand. Each song has a special connection to his life. He wanted to capture how they made him feel and share them with the world. His main influences Biffy Clyro, My Chemical Romance, Daniel Johnston, Death Cab For Cutie, Noah and the Whale.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey Normal Behaviour, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
Hey Kamil! I bought my first bass guitar and started playing music at the age of 11 aspiring to be the next Flea! (Bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers) I played in a covers band in my school years and also sang. During high school I found myself writing a lot of my own original material inspired by the music of John Butler, Newton Faulkner and Josh Rouse so I decided to try my hand at acoustic guitar and haven’t looked back since!
How do you balance your time in the studio with other commitments such as a part-time job, family, admin?
I currently study illustration at University of Wales Trinity Saint David and when I’m not working on coursework I’ll be writing songs and recording them from home using my tascam dp-006. As I record from home it’s much easier for me to find space in the day to focus on my music.
Your latest release is 'Cover For Me'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
I chose 4 cover songs which are really important to me and have shaped me in some way. I wanted to share my take on each offering something slightly different but still keep true to the original feel. A few cars, sirens and conversations almost made it into the recordings as I record near a busy road and have to wait for traffic to quiet down!
How long did you work on the 'Cover For Me'? Was it an easy process for you?
I’ve been recording a handful of cover songs through out the year and decided that at the end of 2022 I would select my favourites for Spotify release. It was a very relaxing projection and it taught me a lot about home recording.
How do you know when a work is finished?
When ideas start to flood in for the next project I know what I’m currently working on must be finished or nearly wrapping up. My releases are a bit like a monthly diary so I guess if the months over so are the tracks for that release!
Can you write what was your best performance in your career? How do you remember it?
I think my most enjoyable and successful gig was for BBC introducing at Underground Festival 2012.
Who is your favourite musician?
I couldn’t possibly pick just the one! So here’s a few: Flea, Simon Neil, Charlie Fink, Ben Gibbard, Daniel Johnston.
What are your plans for the future?
My next EP ‘Numb’ is out on 20th December 2022 then I will be releasing another Covers EP January 1st 2023. I then plan to release my next EP of original songs February 1st. I will then be releasing my debut album in March.